While the IJF marches forward with its effort to create a Judo that looks more “classical”, there are stories trickling out from several sources that the IJF is messing with the rules to prevent some countries from winning Judo tournaments. In the past, these countries were lumped together under the generic “East European” label. Now, it appears that Georgians (leg grabs) and Mongolians (bear hugs) are specifically being singled out. So what’s at work here? Chauvinism, aesthetics, or both?

Continue reading →